Ozark National Scenic Riverways will host its annual Junior Ranger Day at Alley Spring from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Thursday, May 1. The event is free and open to the public.
Area students and youth organizations are invited to participate in a day of environmental education, featuring interactive learning opportunities and live presentations. The event’s highlight will be a raptor program presented by the World Bird Sanctuary. Additional sessions will cover topics such as bats, snakes, large mammals, fish, wildfires, river safety, hellbenders and owls.
Activities are geared toward fourth- and fifth-grade students but are open to all ages. Schools and education groups planning to attend should RSVP by contacting Josh Chilton at 573-226-3945 or email josh_chilton@nps.gov. Participants should bring a picnic lunch and dress appropriately for outdoor activities. During the lunch break, attendees will be sworn in as official Junior Rangers.
Organizations supporting the event include Missouri State Parks, the Missouri Department of Conservation, the U.S. Forest Service, the Ozark Riverways Foundation, the Ozark Trail Association, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Back Country Horsemen of Missouri, Missouri Bat Census, Missouri Stream Team and park volunteers.
Alley Spring is five miles west of Eminence on Highway 106. For more information, call 573-226-3945 or visit the park’s Facebook page or website at www.nps.gov/ozar.
This program was made possible by a grant from the National Park Foundation through support of partners including Union Pacific Railroad and donors across the country. The Ozark Riverways Foundation, the park’s official philanthropic partner, has also generously contributed financial and administrative support for the event.